Brazilian international Alves played through the pain barrier on Saturday to help Valencia to a third consecutive Liga victory, 1-0 at home to Rayo Vallecano de Madrid. However, tests since on the 28-year-old have revealed a tear to an upper leg muscle, sidelining the Valencia No1 for a month – including the UEFA Europa League Group A games away to FC Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday and at home to FC St Gallen on 24 October.

Portuguese international Pereira, 29, also damaged an adductor muscle at the weekend and is likely to return to action in three weeks. Valencia will be seeking a positive response to their section-opening 3-0 home defeat by Swansea City AFC when they travel to Russia to face Dorinel Munteanu's Kuban.

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